Beach...

In an effort to sort of get away from the hospital for a day, five of us volunteers decided to spend our weekend (Friday) in Berbera. Berbera is Somaliland's main seaport located on the Gulf of Aden and compared to Hargeisa is sweltering hot (note: despite being in an African climate, Hargeisa is very windy in the summer with mild evenings and mornings, and there has been a bizarre "cold"- this is relative- and rainy streak for the last few days). As our two hour drive from Hargeisa to Berbera progressed, we could gradually feel the increase in the temperature.

We did go to a private beach area, which is property of Edna's family. This was the nice part because we had the whole area to ourselves. The not so nice part was the fact that we went on a day when there was a sand storm. The second we stepped out of the car, all of our energy went into preventing ourselves from blowing away. The wind was picking up the sand and sweeping it across the beach, and smashing it against our arms and legs. My whole body was actually burning from the sting of sand against my skin. And within about a moment our eyes were filled with sand. Once we figured out we couldn't move without having our heads completely wrapped up in a scarf or towel to protect our faces, we slowly progressed down to the water.

The water itself was wonderful! Although it was very choppy, once into the water you were protected from the sand. All in all, it was great to see the beach but it would have been nicer to go when there was no sand storm (a bit unpredictable). It was nice to get away for a day from the hospital though. And I'll be back to Berbera on Friday...that's where I fly out from.


The beach all to ourselves:


Trying not to blow away:


Blain and Michelle trying to hide from the sand:


This is too far away to see...but our guard is walking and hiding his eyes from the sand:
(note about guards: We have to take a guard with us any time we leave Hargeisa. Somaliland has made this rule/law itself to protect foreigners, and as such the country's reputation. Along the road between Hargeisa and Berbera for instance there are 4 checkpoints where you are stopped and a police/military/guard guy peers in the window. If there are foreigners in the car, then there also must be a guard in the car for the car to continue along the road. Apparently if you do not have a guard, you will be stopped. So when we go places, we always have a guard chilling with us too.)